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SB576,8,21 16(3) Transit authority governance. (a) The powers of an authority shall be
17vested in its board of directors. Directors shall be appointed for 4-year terms. A
18majority of the board of directors' full authorized membership constitutes a quorum
19for the purpose of conducting the authority's business and exercising its powers.
20Action may be taken by the board of directors upon a vote of a majority of the directors
21present and voting, unless the bylaws of the authority require a larger number.
SB576,9,222 (d) 1. If an authority is created under sub. (2) (c), the board of directors of the
23authority shall be determined by resolution of the governing body of Eau Claire
24County or, if Chippewa County also joins the authority as provided in sub. (2) (c) 3.,

1by resolution of the governing bodies of Eau Claire County and Chippewa County,
2except that all of the following shall apply:
SB576,9,33 a. The board of directors shall consist of not more than 17 members.
SB576,9,54 b. The board of directors shall include at least 3 members from Eau Claire
5County, appointed by the county executive and approved by the county board.
SB576,9,86 c. If Chippewa County joins the authority as provided in sub. (2) (c) 3., the board
7of directors shall include at least 3 members from Chippewa County, appointed by
8the county executive and approved by the county board.
SB576,9,119 d. The board of directors shall include at least one member from the most
10populous city of each county that is a member, appointed by the mayor of the city and
11approved by the common council of the city.
SB576,9,1312 e. The board of directors shall include at least one member from the authority's
13jurisdictional area, appointed by the governor.
SB576,9,1814 2. If Chippewa County joins the authority as provided in sub. (2) (c) 3. and the
15governing bodies of Eau Claire County and Chippewa County are unable to agree
16upon a composition of the board of directors as specified in subd. 1., the board of
17directors of the authority shall be limited to the minimum members specified in subd.
181. b. to e.
SB576,9,2419 (fm) If any provision of this subsection provides for the appointment of a
20member of an authority's board of directors by the mayor of a city that has no mayor,
21the appointment shall instead be made by the chairperson of the common council.
22If any provision of this subsection provides for the appointment of a member of an
23authority's board of directors by the county executive of a county that has no county
24executive, the appointment shall be made by the chairperson of the county board.
SB576,10,3
1(g) The bylaws of an authority shall govern its management, operations, and
2administration, consistent with the provisions of this section, and shall include
3provisions specifying all of the following:
SB576,10,44 1. The functions or services to be provided by the authority.
SB576,10,55 2. The powers, duties, and limitations of the authority.
SB576,10,76 3. The maximum rate of the taxes that may be imposed by the authority under
7sub. (4) (s), not to exceed the maximum rate specified in s. 77.708 (1).
SB576,10,98 4. The composition of the board of directors of the authority, as determined
9under par. (d).
SB576,10,12 10(4) Powers. Notwithstanding s. 59.84 (2) and any other provision of this
11chapter or ch. 59 or 85, an authority may do all of the following, to the extent
12authorized in the authority's bylaws:
SB576,10,1413 (a) Establish, maintain, and operate a comprehensive unified local
14transportation system primarily for the transportation of persons.
SB576,10,1715 (b) Acquire a comprehensive unified local transportation system and provide
16funds for the operation and maintenance of the system. Upon the acquisition of a
17comprehensive unified local transportation system, the authority may:
SB576,10,1918 1. Operate and maintain it or lease it to an operator or contract for its use by
19an operator.
SB576,10,2120 2. Contract for superintendence of the system with an organization that has
21personnel with the requisite experience and skill.
SB576,10,2422 3. Delegate responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the system to
23an appropriate administrative officer, board, or commission of a participating
24political subdivision.
SB576,11,2
14. Maintain and improve railroad rights-of-way and improvements on these
2rights-of-way for future use.
SB576,11,43 (c) Contract with a public or private organization to provide transportation
4services in lieu of directly providing these services.
SB576,11,65 (d) Purchase and lease transportation facilities to public or private transit
6companies that operate within and outside the jurisdictional area.
SB576,11,87 (e) Apply for federal aids to purchase transportation facilities considered
8essential for the authority's operation.
SB576,11,179 (f) Coordinate specialized transportation services, as defined in s. 85.21 (2) (g),
10for residents who reside within the jurisdictional area and who are disabled or aged
1160 or older, including services funded under 42 USC 3001 to 3057n, 42 USC 5001, and
1242 USC 5011 (b); under ss. 49.43 to 49.499 and 85.21; and under other public funds
13administered by the county. An authority may contract with a county that is a
14participating political subdivision for the authority to provide specialized
15transportation services, but an authority is not an eligible applicant under s. 85.21
16(2) (e) and may not receive payments directly from the department of transportation
17under s. 85.21.
SB576,11,2018 (g) Acquire, own, hold, use, lease as lessor or lessee, sell or otherwise dispose
19of, mortgage, pledge, or grant a security interest in any real or personal property or
20service.
SB576,11,2221 (h) Acquire property by condemnation using the procedure under s. 32.05 for
22the purposes set forth in this section.
SB576,12,423 (i) Enter upon any state, county, or municipal street, road, or alley, or any public
24highway for the purpose of installing, maintaining, and operating the authority's
25facilities. Whenever the work is to be done in a state, county, or municipal highway,

1street, road, or alley, the public authority having control thereof shall be duly
2notified, and the highway, street, road, or alley shall be restored to as good a condition
3as existed before the commencement of the work with all costs incident to the work
4to be borne by the authority.
SB576,12,65 (j) Fix, maintain, and revise fees, rates, rents, and charges for functions,
6facilities, and services provided by the authority.
SB576,12,87 (k) Make, and from time to time amend and repeal, bylaws, rules, and
8regulations to carry into effect the powers and purposes of the authority.
SB576,12,99 (L) Sue and be sued in its own name.
SB576,12,1010 (m) Have and use a corporate seal.
SB576,12,1311 (n) Employ agents, consultants, and employees; engage professional services;
12and purchase such furniture, stationery, and other supplies and materials as are
13reasonably necessary to perform its duties and exercise its powers.
SB576,12,1514 (o) Incur debts, liabilities, or obligations, including the borrowing of money and
15the issuance of bonds under subs. (7) and (10).
SB576,12,1916 (p) Invest any funds held in reserve or sinking funds, or any funds not required
17for immediate disbursement, including the proceeds from the sale of any bonds, in
18such obligations, securities, and other investments as the authority deems proper in
19accordance with s. 66.0603 (1m).
SB576,12,2120 (q) Do and perform any acts and things authorized by this section under,
21through, or by means of an agent or by contracts with any person.
SB576,12,2422 (r) Exercise any other powers that the board of directors considers necessary
23and convenient to effectuate the purposes of the authority, including providing for
24passenger safety.
SB576,13,8
1(s) 1. Impose, by the adoption of a resolution by the board of directors, the taxes
2under subch. V of ch. 77 in the authority's jurisdictional area. If an authority adopts
3a resolution to impose the taxes, or to change the rate after the taxes are imposed,
4it shall deliver a certified copy of the resolution to the department of revenue at least
5120 days before its effective date. The authority may, by adoption of a resolution by
6the board of directors, repeal the imposition of taxes under subch. V of ch. 77 and
7shall deliver a certified copy of the repeal resolution to the department of revenue at
8least 120 days before its effective date.
SB576,14,29 2. If an authority adopts a resolution to impose the tax, as provided in subd.
101., an authority shall specify to the department of revenue, as provided in this
11subdivision, the exact boundaries of the authority's jurisdictional area. If the
12boundaries are the same as the county lines on all sides of the authority's
13jurisdictional area, the resolution shall specify the county or counties that comprise
14the authority's entire jurisdictional area. If the boundaries are other than a county
15line on any side of the authority's jurisdictional area, the authority shall provide the
16department with a complete list of all the 9-digit zip codes that are entirely within
17the authority's jurisdictional area and a complete list of all the street addresses that
18are within the authority's jurisdictional area and not included in any 9-digit zip code
19that is entirely within the authority's jurisdictional area. The authority shall
20provide a certified copy of the information required under this subdivision to the
21department, in the manner, format, and layout prescribed by the department, at
22least 120 days prior to the first day of the calendar quarter before the effective date
23of the tax imposed under subd. 1. If the boundaries of the authority's jurisdictional
24area subsequently change, the authority shall submit a certified copy of the
25information required under this subdivision to the department at least 120 days

1prior to the first day of the calendar quarter before the effective date of such change,
2in the manner, format, and layout prescribed by the department.
SB576,14,103 3. Notwithstanding subd. 1., an authority created under sub. (2) (c) may not
4impose the taxes authorized under subd. 1. unless the authorizing resolution under
5sub. (2) (c) 1. and, if applicable, sub. (2) (c) 3., as well as the referendum question on
6the referendum ballot specified in sub. (2) (c) 1. and, if applicable, sub. (2) (c) 3., each
7clearly identifies the maximum rate of the taxes that may be imposed by the
8authority under subd. 1. For purposes of this subdivision, the maximum tax rates
9identified in the authorizing resolution under sub. (2) (c) 3., and the corresponding
10referendum question, are the same as those identified for purposes of sub. (2) (c) 1.
SB576,14,1511 4. If an authority created under sub. (2) (c) adopts a resolution to impose the
12taxes under subd. 1., no political subdivision that is a member of the authority may
13levy property taxes for transit purposes in excess of the amount of property taxes
14levied for transit purposes in the year before the year in which the taxes are imposed
15under subd. 1.
SB576,14,22 16(5) Limitations on authority powers. (a) Notwithstanding sub. (4) (a), (b), (c),
17(d), (q), and (r), no authority, and no public or private organization with which an
18authority has contracted for service, may provide service outside the jurisdictional
19area of the authority unless the authority receives financial support for the service
20under a contract with a public or other private organization for the service or unless
21it is necessary in order to provide service to connect residents within the authority's
22jurisdictional area to transit systems in adjacent counties.
SB576,15,623 (b) Whenever the proposed operations of an authority would be competitive
24with the operations of a common carrier in existence prior to the time the authority
25commences operations, the authority shall coordinate proposed operations with the

1common carrier to eliminate adverse financial impact for the carrier. This
2coordination may include route overlapping, transfers, transfer points, schedule
3coordination, joint use of facilities, lease of route service, and acquisition of route and
4corollary equipment. If this coordination does not result in mutual agreement, the
5proposals of the authority and the common carrier shall be submitted to the
6department of transportation for arbitration.
SB576,15,97 (c) In exercising its powers under sub. (4), an authority shall consider any plan
8of a metropolitan planning organization under 23 USC 134 that covers any portion
9of the authority's jurisdictional area.
SB576,15,14 10(6) Authority obligations to employees of mass transportation systems. (a)
11An authority acquiring a comprehensive unified local transportation system for the
12purpose of the authority's operation of the system shall assume all of the employer's
13obligations under any contract between the employees and management of the
14system to the extent allowed by law.
SB576,15,2415 (b) An authority acquiring, constructing, controlling, or operating a
16comprehensive unified local transportation system shall negotiate an agreement
17with the representative of the labor organization that covers the employees affected
18by the acquisition, construction, control, or operation to protect the interests of
19employees affected. This agreement shall include all of the provisions identified in
20s. 59.58 (4) (b) 1. to 8. and may include provisions identified in s. 59.58 (4) (c). An
21affected employee has all the rights and the same status under subch. IV of ch. 111
22that he or she enjoyed immediately before the acquisition, construction, control, or
23operation and may not be required to serve a probationary period if he or she attained
24permanent status before the acquisition, construction, control, or operation.
SB576,16,2
1(c) In all negotiations under this subsection, a senior executive officer of the
2authority shall be a member of the authority's negotiating body.
SB576,16,7 3(7) Bonds; generally. (a) An authority may issue bonds, the principal and
4interest on which are payable exclusively from all or a portion of any revenues
5received by the authority. The authority may secure its bonds by a pledge of any
6income or revenues from any operations, rent, aids, grants, subsidies, contributions,
7or other source of moneys whatsoever.
SB576,16,98 (b) An authority may issue bonds in such principal amounts as the authority
9deems necessary.
SB576,16,1210 (c) 1. Neither the members of the board of directors of an authority nor any
11person executing the bonds is personally liable on the bonds by reason of the issuance
12of the bonds.
SB576,16,1713 2. The bonds of an authority are not a debt of the participating political
14subdivisions. Neither the participating political subdivisions nor the state are liable
15for the payment of the bonds. The bonds of any authority shall be payable only out
16of funds or properties of the authority. The bonds of the authority shall state the
17restrictions contained in this paragraph on the face of the bonds.
SB576,17,3 18(8) Issuance of bonds. (a) Bonds of an authority shall be authorized by
19resolution of the board of directors. The bonds may be issued under such a resolution
20or under a trust indenture or other security instrument. The bonds may be issued
21in one or more series and may be in the form of coupon bonds or registered bonds
22under s. 67.09. The bonds shall bear the dates, mature at the times, bear interest
23at the rates, be in the denominations, have the rank or priority, be executed in the
24manner, be payable in the medium of payment and at the places, and be subject to
25the terms of redemption, with or without premium, as the resolution, trust

1indenture, or other security instrument provides. Bonds of an authority are issued
2for an essential public and governmental purpose and are public instrumentalities
3and, together with interest and income, are exempt from taxes.
SB576,17,54 (b) The authority may sell the bonds at public or private sales at the price or
5prices determined by the authority.
SB576,17,96 (c) If an officer whose signatures appear on any bonds or coupons ceases to be
7an officer of the authority before the delivery of the bonds or coupons, the officer's
8signature shall, nevertheless, be valid for all purposes as if the officer had remained
9in office until delivery of the bonds or coupons.
SB576,17,11 10(9) Covenants. An authority may do all of the following in connection with the
11issuance of bonds:
SB576,17,1212 (a) Covenant as to the use of any or all of its property, real or personal.
SB576,17,1413 (b) Redeem the bonds, or covenant for the redemption of the bonds, and provide
14the terms and conditions of the redemption.
SB576,17,2115 (c) Covenant to charge fees, rates, rents, and charges sufficient to meet
16operating and maintenance expenses, renewals, and replacements of any
17transportation system, principal and debt service on bond creation and maintenance
18of any reserves required by a bond resolution, trust indenture, or other security
19instrument and to provide for any margins or coverages over and above debt service
20on the bonds that the board of directors considers desirable for the marketability of
21the bonds.
SB576,18,222 (d) Covenant as to the events of default on the bonds and the terms and
23conditions upon which the bonds shall become or may be declared due before
24maturity, as to the terms and conditions upon which this declaration and its

1consequences may be waived, and as to the consequences of default and the remedies
2of bondholders.
SB576,18,53 (e) Covenant as to the mortgage or pledge of, or the grant of a security interest
4in, any real or personal property and all or any part of the revenues of the authority
5to secure the payment of bonds, subject to any agreements with the bondholders.
SB576,18,86 (f) Covenant as to the custody, collection, securing, investment, and payment
7of any revenues, assets, moneys, funds, or property with respect to which the
8authority may have any rights or interest.
SB576,18,119 (g) Covenant as to the purposes to which the proceeds from the sale of any bonds
10may be applied, and as to the pledge of such proceeds to secure the payment of the
11bonds.
SB576,18,1412 (h) Covenant as to limitations on the issuance of any additional bonds, the
13terms upon which additional bonds may be issued and secured, and the refunding
14of outstanding bonds.
SB576,18,1615 (i) Covenant as to the rank or priority of any bonds with respect to any lien or
16security.
SB576,18,2017 (j) Covenant as to the procedure by which the terms of any contract with or for
18the benefit of the holders of bonds may be amended or abrogated, the amount of
19bonds, the holders of which must consent thereto, and the manner in which such
20consent may be given.
SB576,18,2321 (k) Covenant as to the custody and safekeeping of any of its properties or
22investments, the insurance to be carried on the property or investments, and the use
23and disposition of insurance proceeds.
SB576,19,3
1(L) Covenant as to the vesting in one or more trustees, within or outside the
2state, of those properties, rights, powers, and duties in trust as the authority
3determines.
SB576,19,64 (m) Covenant as to the appointing of, and providing for the duties and
5obligations of, one or more paying agent or other fiduciaries within or outside the
6state.
SB576,19,97 (n) Make all other covenants and do any act that may be necessary or
8convenient or desirable in order to secure its bonds or, in the absolute discretion of
9the authority, tend to make the bonds more marketable.
SB576,19,1310 (o) Execute all instruments necessary or convenient in the exercise of the
11powers granted under this section or in the performance of covenants or duties,
12which may contain such covenants and provisions as a purchaser of the bonds of the
13authority may reasonably require.
SB576,19,25 14(10) Refunding bonds. An authority may issue refunding bonds for the
15purpose of paying any of its bonds at or prior to maturity or upon acceleration or
16redemption. An authority may issue refunding bonds at such time prior to the
17maturity or redemption of the refunded bonds as the authority deems to be in the
18public interest. The refunding bonds may be issued in sufficient amounts to pay or
19provide the principal of the bonds being refunded, together with any redemption
20premium on the bonds, any interest accrued or to accrue to the date of payment of
21the bonds, the expenses of issue of the refunding bonds, the expenses of redeeming
22the bonds being refunded, and such reserves for debt service or other capital or
23current expenses from the proceeds of such refunding bonds as may be required by
24the resolution, trust indenture, or other security instruments. To the extent
25applicable, refunding bonds are subject to subs. (8) and (9).
SB576,20,2
1(11) Bonds eligible for investment. (a) Any of the following may invest funds,
2including capital in their control or belonging to them, in bonds of the authority:
SB576,20,33 1. Public officers and agencies of the state.
SB576,20,44 2. Local governmental units, as defined in s. 19.42 (7u).
SB576,20,55 3. Insurance companies.
SB576,20,66 4. Trust companies.
SB576,20,77 5. Banks.
SB576,20,88 6. Savings banks.
SB576,20,99 7. Savings and loan associations.
SB576,20,1010 8. Investment companies.
SB576,20,1111 9. Personal representatives.
SB576,20,1212 10. Trustees.
SB576,20,1313 11. Other fiduciaries not listed in this paragraph.
SB576,20,1714 (b) The authority's bonds are securities that may be deposited with and
15received by any officer or agency of the state or any local governmental unit, as
16defined in s. 19.42 (7u), for any purpose for which the deposit of bonds or obligations
17of the state or any local governmental unit is authorized by law.
SB576,20,25 18(12) Budgets; rates and charges; audit. The board of directors of an authority
19shall annually prepare a budget for the authority. Rates and other charges received
20by an authority shall be used only for the general expenses and capital expenditures
21of the authority, to pay interest, amortization, and retirement charges on bonds, and
22for specific purposes of the authority and may not be transferred to any political
23subdivision. The authority shall maintain an accounting system in accordance with
24generally accepted accounting principles and shall have its financial statements and
25debt covenants audited annually by an independent certified public accountant.
SB576,21,6
1(13) Withdrawal from authority. (a) A participating political subdivision that
2becomes a member of an authority under sub. (2) (c) 4. shall withdraw from the
3authority if the county in which the municipality is located withdraws from the
4authority under this subsection and a participating political subdivision that joined
5an authority under sub. (2) (c) 3. may withdraw from an authority if all of the
6following conditions are met:
SB576,21,87 1. The governing body of the political subdivision adopts a resolution
8requesting withdrawal of the political subdivision from the authority.
SB576,21,109 2. The political subdivision has paid, or made provision for the payment of, all
10obligations of the political subdivision to the authority.
SB576,21,1811 (b) If a participating political subdivision withdraws from an authority, the
12authority shall provide the department of revenue with a certified copy of the
13resolution that approves the withdrawal. The withdrawal is effective on the first day
14of the calendar quarter that begins at least 120 days after the department receives
15the certified copy of the resolution approving the withdrawal. If the authority from
16which the political subdivision withdraws continues to exist after the withdrawal,
17the authority shall provide information describing the exact boundaries of its
18jurisdictional area, as provided in sub. (4) (s) 2.
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